Dahlia plant named &#39;G13518&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘G13518’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; very dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and semi-double type inflorescences with apricot and yellow-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G13518 ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘G13518’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous Dahlia plants that havedark-colored leaves, large attractive inflorescences and reducedsensitivity to Powdery Mildew.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination in Bellefonte,Pa. in October, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilisidentified as code number 3169-1-5M-2, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Dahlia variabilisidentified as code number 3169-1-5M-1, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inBellefonte, Pa. in July, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. sinceAugust, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘G13518’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘G13518’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Very dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Semi-double type inflorescences with apricot and        yellow-colored ray florets.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newDahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have semi-double type inflorescences        whereas plants of the female parent selection have single type        inflorescences.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection        differ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the        female parent selection are uniformly yellow in color.

Compared to plants of the male parent selection, plants of the newDahlia differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Dahlia are darker in color than        leaves of plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the male parent selection differ        in ray floret color as plants of the male parent selection have        bright rose pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘MysticFantasy’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,417. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Dahliadiffered primarily from plants of ‘Mystic Fantasy’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Mystic Fantasy’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Dahlia were lighter in color than        leaves of plants of ‘Mystic Fantasy’.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia had semi-double type inflorescences        whereas plants of ‘Mystic Fantasy’ had single type        inflorescences.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia ‘HDLE105’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,053. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Dahlia differedprimarily from plants of ‘HDLE105’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Dahlia were lighter in color than        leaves of plants of ‘HDLE105’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia had semi-double type inflorescences        whereas plants of ‘HDLE105’ had single type inflorescences.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘HDLE105’ differed in ray floret        color as plants of ‘HDLE 105’ had light yellow-colored ray        florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the right side of the sheet is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘G13518’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the left side of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘G13518’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 10-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under culturalpractices typical of commercial potted Dahlia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., nighttemperatures averaged 10° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to10,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were 13 weeks oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘G13518’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia            variabilis identified as code number 3169-1-5M-2, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia            variabilis identified as code number 3169-1-5M-1, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at            ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at            ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three to four            weeks at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at            temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy and fibrous;            close to white to creamy white in color, actual color of the            roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber            development has not been observed on plants of the new            Dahlia.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounding plant            form; rounded inverted triangle; freely branching habit with            about 14 lateral branches developing per plant, each lateral            with potentially two secondary laterals developing per node;            pinching enhances lateral branch development; inflorescences            held above the foliar plane on strong peduncles; bushy and            dense appearance; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 24.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 22.5 cm. Diameter: About 5            mm to 8 mm. Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Strength:            Strong. Aspect: Erect to somewhat outwardly spreading.            Texture: Scattered and sparse pubescence; woody with            development. Luster: Matte. Color, developing: Close to            187A. Color, developed: Close to 199C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 4 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to oval.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Crenate to serrate.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Scattered and sparse pubescence;            prominent venation.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 203B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Slightly more green than            N189B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than            147A; venation, close to 183B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to N137B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 200A. Color, lower surface: Close to            200B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form            with ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;            inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright to outwardly;            freely flowering habit with about 34 inflorescence buds and            open inflorescences at one time.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about five weeks after planting; plants flower            continuously from late spring through the autumn in Southern            California.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about five days on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to N199C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.6 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 2.2 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 cm.            Shape: Flattened bowl-shape. Color: Close to N199B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About nine to ten            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width:            About 1.5 cm. Shape: Oval to nearly round. Apex: Emarginate.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Initially upright            to roughly perpendicular to the peduncle; somewhat concave.            Texture, upper surface: Shallowly ridged, glabrous. Texture,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to N167C to N167D. When opening, lower surface: Close to            165C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 163B tinted with            close to 167C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 162A to            162B.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 84. Length:            About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Tubular,            elongated; apices acute. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:            Somewhat glossy. Color, when opening: Apex: Close to N167A.            Mid-section: Close to N167C. Base: Close to 147C. Color,            fully opened: Apex: Close to N170A. Mid-section: Close to            N167C. Base: Close to 147C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 15 arranged in            two whorls; inner whorl with ten phyllaries and outer whorl            with five smaller phyllaries. Inner whorl: Length: About            1.5 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblong to broadly            lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Satiny, matte. Color, upper            surface: Close to N199B. Color, lower surface: Close to            N199C. Outer whorl: Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 4 mm.            Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Satiny, matte. Color,            upper surface: Darker than 147A. Color, lower surface: Close            to 203B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8.4 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Matte. Color:            Close to 200A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Present on disc florets only; ray            florets without visible reproductive organs. Androecium:            Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About 2 mm.            Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Lanceolate.            Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 163B.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A.            Gynoecium: Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About            9 mm. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 15B.            Stigma shape: Tri-parted. Stigma color: Close to 15B. Ovary            color: Close to 145D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Dahlia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘G13518’ asillustrated and described.